About the Editor

Carlos da Silva Campos.

Professional journalist, with background on the economical press and Packaging Editor since 1982, heading independent magazines REVIPACK (packaging), REVIPLAST (plastics) and REVIPROJECT (automation).
Lawyer since 1984 and and Packaging Consultant since 1986, working for several industry associations related to packaging and recycling. Honorary Member of IPPO - the International Packaging Press Organisation. Served as Vice-President (1996-1999) and Chairman (1999-2002).

Selfridges, the UK department store, has announced it will no longer be selling single-use plastic bottles, as part of a lauched by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Marine Reserves Coalition (MRC) and supported by Greenpeace UK. Selfriges said it previously sold around 400 thousand plastic water bottles a year in its stores and restaurants. Instead, Selfridges will provide bottled water in glass and water taps to refill reusable plastics bottles (see image).

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has criticized this innitiative. Philip Law, the BPF’s Director General, commented: “The availability of water in portable, lightweight bottles promotes good health and can be critical in emergency situations. Plastic products do not litter themselves onto our streets or into our oceans, people do". Law highlighted the recycling results: “During 2014, nearly 60 percent of PET plastic bottles in the household waste stream were collected for recycling”.

To see the Selfridges campaign, click HERETo read the BPF position, click HERE.

A transparent plastic can for canned food, oxygen absorbers that increase the food shelf-life and bags to pack wine or oil are some of the innovations lunched during MeetingPack2015, the packaging conference held in Valencia from 25th to 26th of February.

Kortec has launched a transparent plastic can that can be used for packaging food that used to be packaged in metallic cans. They permit to keep the food shelf-life up to five years.

Absorbers

In Europe 95 kg of food are wasted per person per year, five times more than in Japan. One option for increasing the shelf-life of sensible-to-oxygen-action packaged food is through the incorporation of oxygen scavengers, as Mitsubishi has done, capable to remove the remaining oxygen from inside the packages, in order to avoid the oxidation reactions that damage food and increase the shelf-life in a healthier way. The oxygen scavengers can be included as extern agents to the package, as labels or little bags inside. This kind of technology is really used in Japan because of its oxidation prevention qualities, changes of food colour, but it is not so extended in Europe. One of the advantages of oxygen scavengers is that they do not need additional industrial equipment to use these technologies. It also prevents the oxidation of oils and fat, so a better preservation of the nutritional qualities of the food is obtained.

Blow moulded plastic bottles is a market of nearly 4.5 million tonnes magnitude in Europe. Beverages accounted for two-thirds of the market demand in units. The growth trends differ depending on both the drinks category and the geography, but the overriding trend within the beverages market in Europe is toward ‘healthier options’. The demand for blow moulded beverage bottles in Europe is fuelled by continued substitution of glass bottles, cartons and cans. Moreover, consumers tend to make more impulse purchases whist on-the-go, which drives additional demand. These are the main findings in a report published in April by AMI Consulting (Bristol, UK).

The collection of used PET bottles increased 25% in Portugal during 2013, approaching the 15 thousand tonnes. Âccording to data verified by Plastival, the selective collection (drop off and door-to-door) achieved 11.6 thousand tons, an increase of 8%, while the PET from composting and MBT facilities increased 170%, exceeding 3,4 thousand tons. The PET recycling rate is above 25 % since 2015, referring to total consumption of PET packaging. The recycling rate doubles for the bottle segment (mainly water and CSD bottles).

The collection of PET bottles in Europe increased by 5.6% in 2012 more than consumption (about 3%), according to PCI estimates, with a total of 1,475 million tons. Germany scored the higher increase in collection: 16%. Collection figures for 2013 have yet to be estimated.

The 25th edition of SIMEI, biennial international exhibition event dedicated to the wine, olive oil and beverage supply chains, will be held at the Fiera Milano Fairground at Rho (Milan) from next 12 to 16 November.

SIMEI offers a comprehensive overview of the high technological level achieved by the enological and beverages industries, showing a very wide range of different technical solutions compatible with specific needs, from the manufacturer to the bottling cycle. At SIMEI it is possible to find all types of equipment, material or accessory related to the beverage production cycle in general – wine and beer production, juice processing, preparation of carbonated drinks. The exhibition panorama also includes all kinds of equipment for beverage packaging for the steps after bottling.

Much more than the glass makers, the cork suppliers (with the usual strong presence of Portuguese companies) will be exhibiting again in Milan. After all, the wine-cork-glass troika is still ruling.

Machines

After a 2009 year of strong fall-off, the export of cellar processing machines and equipment highlighted a steady recovery trend in the following years and 2012 also shows strong signs of recovery marking a performance of /1,956 million euro, corresponding to a + 9% in comparison to the previous year. To lead export, also for 2012, is the sector of bottle filling, closing, encapsulating, labelling machines and of beverage carbonation equipment, with an export value of over one billion euro, which alone represents more than 63% of the whole trade flow.

The "World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Beverage and Liquid Food Industry" – drinktec 2013 – takes place in Munich from September 16 to 20, 2013. Here, around 1,500 exhibitors from approximately 70 countries will be showcasing products and solutions across the entire spectrum of beverage and liquid food technology – packaging and marketing ideas included. Around 60 percent of the exhibiting companies come from outside Germany and the exhibition is expected to attract around 60,000 trade visitors from all over the globe.

"Processing + Filling + Packaging + Marketing" – the new subtitle for drinktec says it all. More than just a technology showcase, this event covers everything of importance to the beverage and liquid food sector worldwide. As well as its function as a technology and innovations platform, drinktec is also a gigantic ideas and information forum, a meeting place for exchanging views and for communication. It is this mix which attracts trade visitors from all areas of the companies. Global beverages, food and retailing groups are represented here as well as smaller, regionally focused breweries, for example.

Coca-Cola in a bag? Not so fast… In Brazil, El Salvador and other Latin American countries, some people ask te vendors to open the glass bottle and pour the Coke to a plastic bag. It’s not a real alternative to the "classic" Coca-Cola bottle, but just a way to avoid the deposit on the returnable glass bottle. Then, the Coca-Cola Company decided to launch its own bags, in order to keep the brand visible. The bags have the coke bottle shape and the coke logo printed. And the plastic is biodegradable, says the company. To sell and serve a Coca-Cola, now two packages are used (the bottle and the bag), instead of just one…